1
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Grimes SL, Denison MR. The Coronavirus helicase in replication. Virus Res 2024; 346:199401. [PMID: 38796132 PMCID: PMC11177069 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus nonstructural protein (nsp) 13 encodes an RNA helicase (nsp13-HEL) with multiple enzymatic functions, including unwinding and nucleoside phosphatase (NTPase) activities. Attempts for enzymatic inactivation have defined the nsp13-HEL as a critical enzyme for viral replication and a high-priority target for antiviral development. Helicases have been shown to play numerous roles beyond their canonical ATPase and unwinding activities, though these functions are just beginning to be explored in coronavirus biology. Recent genetic and biochemical studies, as well as work in structurally-related helicases, have provided evidence that supports new hypotheses for the helicase's potential role in coronavirus replication. Here, we review several aspects of the coronavirus nsp13-HEL, including its reported and proposed functions in viral replication and highlight fundamental areas of research that may aid the development of helicase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Grimes
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mark R Denison
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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2
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Kant R, Kaushik R, Chopra M, Saluja D. Structure-based drug discovery to identify SARS-CoV2 spike protein-ACE2 interaction inhibitors. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-19. [PMID: 38174578 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2300060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
After the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has undergone a dynamic evolution driven by the acquisition of genetic modifications, resulting in several variants that are further classified as variants of interest (VOIs), variants under monitoring (VUM) and variants of concern (VOC) by World Health Organization (WHO). Currently, there are five SARS-CoV-2 VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron), two VOIs (Lambda and Mu) and several other VOIs that have been reported globally. In this study, we report a natural compound, Curcumin, as the potential inhibitor to the interactions between receptor binding domain (RBD(S1)) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) domains and showcased its inhibitory potential for the Delta and Omicron variants through a computational approach by implementing state of the art methods. The study for the first time revealed a higher efficiency of Curcumin, especially for hindering the interaction between RBD(S1) and hACE-2 domains of Delta and Omicron variants as compared to other lead compounds. We investigated that the mutations in the RBD(S1) of VOC especially Delta and Omicron variants affect its structure compared to that of the wild type and other variants and therefore altered its binding to the hACE2 receptor. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analyses substantially supported the findings in terms of the stability of the docked complexes. This study offers compelling evidence, warranting a more in-depth exploration into the impact of these alterations on the binding of identified drug molecules with the Spike protein. Further investigation into their potential therapeutic effects in vivo is highly recommended.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kant
- Medical Biotechnology Laboratory, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research &Delhi School of Public Health, IoE, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Rahul Kaushik
- Biotechology Research Center, Technology Innovation Institute, Masdar City, UAE
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Madhu Chopra
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Development, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Daman Saluja
- Medical Biotechnology Laboratory, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research &Delhi School of Public Health, IoE, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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3
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Li X, Song Y. Structure and function of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases and their inhibition: A comprehensive review. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115772. [PMID: 37659195 PMCID: PMC10529944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) identified in 2003 infected ∼8000 people in 26 countries with 800 deaths, which was soon contained and eradicated by syndromic surveillance and enhanced quarantine. A closely related coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 identified in 2019, has been dramatically more contagious and catastrophic. It has infected and caused various flu-like symptoms of billions of people in >200 countries, including >6 million people died of or with the virus. Despite the availability of several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, finding new therapeutics is needed because of viral evolution and a possible emerging coronavirus in the future. The main protease (Mpro) of these coronaviruses plays important roles in their life cycle and is essential for the viral replication. This article represents a comprehensive review of the function, structure and inhibition of SARS-CoV and -CoV-2 Mpro, including structure-activity relationships, protein-inhibitor interactions and clinical trial status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Yongcheng Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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4
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Mehyar N. Coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitors: A systematic review of in vitro studies. J Virus Erad 2023:100327. [PMID: 37363132 PMCID: PMC10214743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 significantly increased the need to find inhibitors that target the essential enzymes for virus replication in the host cells. This systematic review was conducted to identify potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicases that have been tested by in vitro methods. The inhibition mechanisms of these compounds were discussed in this review, in addition to their cytotoxic and viral infection protection properties. Methods The databases PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched using different combinations of the keywords "helicase", "nsp13", "inhibitors", "coronaviridae", "coronaviruses", "virus replication", "replication", and "antagonists and inhibitors". Results By the end of this search, a total of 6854 articles had been identified. Thirty-one articles were included in this review. These studies reported the inhibitory effects of 309 compounds on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase activities measured by in vitro methods. Helicase inhibitors were categorized according to the type of coronavirus and the type of tested enzymatic activity, nature, approval, inhibition level, cytotoxicity, and viral infection protection effects. These inhibitors are classified according to the site of their interaction with the coronavirus helicases into four types: zinc-binding site inhibitors, nucleic acid binding site inhibitors, nucleotide-binding site inhibitors, and inhibitors with no clear interaction site. Conclusion Evidence from in vitro studies suggests that helicase inhibitors have a high potential as antiviral agents. Several helicase inhibitors tested in vitro showed good antiviral activities while maintaining moderate cytotoxicity. These inhibitors should be clinically investigated to determine their efficiency in treating different coronavirus infections, particularly COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimer Mehyar
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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5
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Ning L, Liu M, Gou Y, Yang Y, He B, Huang J. Development and application of ribonucleic acid therapy strategies against COVID-19. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:5070-5085. [PMID: 35982905 PMCID: PMC9379410 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), remaining a global health crisis since its outbreak until now. Advanced biotechnology and research findings have revealed many suitable viral and host targets for a wide range of therapeutic strategies. The emerging ribonucleic acid therapy can modulate gene expression by post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) based on Watson-Crick base pairing. RNA therapies, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), ribozymes, RNA interference (RNAi), aptamers, etc., were used to treat SARS-CoV whose genome is similar to SARV-CoV-2, and the past experience also applies for the treatment of COVID-19. Several studies against SARS-CoV-2 based on RNA therapeutic strategy have been reported, and a dozen of relevant preclinical or clinical trials are in process globally. RNA therapy has been a very active and important part of COVID-19 treatment. In this review, we focus on the progress of ribonucleic acid therapeutic strategies development and application, discuss corresponding problems and challenges, and suggest new strategies and solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ning
- School of Healthcare Technology, Chengdu Neusoft University, Sichuan, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan, China
| | - Mujiexin Liu
- Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Sichuan, China
| | - Yushu Gou
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan, China
| | - Bifang He
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Jian Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan, China
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6
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Thakur A, Sharma G, Badavath VN, Jayaprakash V, Merz KM, Blum G, Acevedo O. Primer for Designing Main Protease (M pro) Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:5776-5786. [PMID: 35726889 PMCID: PMC9235046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has been devastating, with hundreds of millions of infections and millions of deaths reported worldwide. In response, the application of structure-activity relationships (SAR) upon experimentally validated inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) may provide an avenue for the identification of new lead compounds active against COVID-19. Upon the basis of information gleaned from a combination of reported crystal structures and the docking of experimentally validated inhibitors, four "rules" for designing potent Mpro inhibitors have been proposed. The aim here is to guide medicinal chemists toward the most probable hits and to provide guidance on repurposing available structures as Mpro inhibitors. Experimental examination of our own previously reported inhibitors using the four "rules" identified a potential lead compound, the cathepsin inhibitor GB111-NH2, that was 2.3 times more potent than SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor N3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Thakur
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- Department
of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Vishnu Nayak Badavath
- School
of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Hyderabad 509301, India
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835 215, India
| | - Venkatesan Jayaprakash
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835 215, India
| | - Kenneth M. Merz
- Department
of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Galia Blum
- Institute
for Drug Research, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel
| | - Orlando Acevedo
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
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7
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Ding S, Ullah I, Gong SY, Grover JR, Mohammadi M, Chen Y, Vézina D, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Verma VT, Goyette G, Gaudette F, Richard J, Yang D, Smith AB, Pazgier M, Côté M, Abrams C, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil PD, Finzi A, Baron C. VE607 stabilizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike in the "RBD-up" conformation and inhibits viral entry. iScience 2022; 25:104528. [PMID: 35677392 PMCID: PMC9164512 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection of host cells starts by binding the Spike glycoprotein (S) to the ACE2 receptor. The S-ACE2 interaction is a potential target for therapies against COVID-19 as demonstrated by the development of immunotherapies blocking this interaction. VE607 - a commercially available compound composed of three stereoisomers - was described as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-1. Here, we show that VE607 broadly inhibits pseudoviral particles bearing the Spike from major VOCs (D614G, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron - BA.1, and BA.2) as well as authentic SARS-CoV-2 at low micromolar concentrations. In silico docking, mutational analysis, and smFRET revealed that VE607 binds to the receptor binding domain (RBD)-ACE2 interface and stabilizes RBD in its "up" conformation. Prophylactic treatment with VE607 did not prevent SARS-CoV-2-induced mortality in K18-hACE2 mice, but it did reduce viral replication in the lungs by 37-fold. Thus, VE607 is an interesting lead for drug development for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilei Ding
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Irfan Ullah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Shang Yu Gong
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jonathan R. Grover
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Mohammadjavad Mohammadi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yaozong Chen
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814-4712, USA
| | - Dani Vézina
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Beaudoin-Bussières
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Vijay Tailor Verma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Jonathan Richard
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Derek Yang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amos B. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marzena Pazgier
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814-4712, USA
| | - Marceline Côté
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Cameron Abrams
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Priti Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Walther Mothes
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Pradeep D. Uchil
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Andrés Finzi
- Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, QC, Canada,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Corresponding author
| | - Christian Baron
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Corresponding author
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8
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Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, causing COVID-19, is the most challenging pandemic of the modern era. It has resulted in over 5 million deaths worldwide. To quickly explore therapeutics for COVID-19, we utilized a previously-established system, namely CEBIT. We performed a high-throughput screening of FDA-approved drugs to inhibit the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its obligate receptor ACE2. This interaction is essential for viral entry and therefore represents a promising therapeutic target. Based on the recruitment of interacting molecules into phase-separated condensates as a readout, we identified six positive candidates from a library of 2572 compounds, most of which have been reported to inhibit the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. Our surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking analyses revealed the possible mechanisms via which these compounds interfere with the interaction between RBD and ACE2. Hence, our results indicate that CEBIT is highly versatile for identifying drugs against SARS-CoV-2 entry, and targeting CoV-2 entry by small molecule drugs is a viable therapeutic option to treat COVID-19 in addition to commonly used monoclonal antibodies.
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9
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Ding S, Gong SY, Grover J, Mohammadi M, Chen Y, Vézina D, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Verma VT, Goyette G, Richard J, Yang D, Smith AB, Pazgier M, Côté M, Abrams C, Mothes W, Finzi A, Baron C. VE607 Stabilizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike In the "RBD-up" Conformation and Inhibits Viral Entry. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.02.03.479007. [PMID: 35233570 PMCID: PMC8887069 DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.03.479007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection of host cells starts by binding of the Spike glycoprotein (S) to the ACE2 receptor. The S-ACE2 interaction is a potential target for therapies against COVID-19 as demonstrated by the development of immunotherapies blocking this interaction. Here, we present the commercially available VE607, comprised of three stereoisomers, that was originally described as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-1. We show that VE607 specifically inhibits infection of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 S-expressing pseudoviral particles as well as authentic SARS-CoV-2. VE607 stabilizes the receptor binding domain (RBD) in its "up" conformation. In silico docking and mutational analysis map the VE607 binding site at the RBD-ACE2 interface. The IC 50 values are in the low micromolar range for pseudoparticles derived from SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan/D614G as well as from variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron), suggesting that VE607 has potential for the development of drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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10
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Integration of a miniaturized DMMB assay with high-throughput screening for identifying regulators of proteoglycan metabolism. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1083. [PMID: 35058478 PMCID: PMC8776954 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04805-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective biosynthesis or function of proteoglycans causes pathological conditions in a variety of tissue systems. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage destruction caused by imbalanced proteoglycan synthesis and degradation. Identifying agents that regulate proteoglycan metabolism may benefit the development of OA-modifying therapeutics. High-throughput screening (HTS) of chemical libraries has paved the way for achieving this goal. However, the implementation and adaptation of HTS assays based on proteoglycan measurement remain underexploited. Using primary porcine chondrocytes as a model, we report a miniaturized dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) assay, which is commonly used to quantitatively evaluate sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, with an optimized detection range and reproducibility and its integration with HTS. Treatment with TGF-β1 and IL1-α, known as positive and negative proteoglycan regulators, respectively, supported the assay specificity. A pre-test of chemical screening of 960 compounds identified both stimulators (4.48%) and inhibitors (6.04%) of GAG production. Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis validated the activity of selected hits on chondroitin sulfate expression in an alginate culture system. Our findings support the implementation of this simple colorimetric assay in HTS to discover modifiers of OA or other diseases related to dysregulated proteoglycan metabolism.
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11
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Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) plays a crucial role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication and is highly conserved, rendering it one of the most attractive therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition. Currently, although two drug candidates targeting SARS-CoV-2 Mpro designed by Pfizer are under clinical trials, no SARS-CoV-2 medication is approved due to the long period of drug development. Here, we collect a comprehensive list of 817 available SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Mpro inhibitors from the literature or databases and analyze their molecular mechanisms of action. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) among each series of inhibitors are discussed. Additionally, we broadly examine available antiviral activity, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity), and animal tests of these inhibitors. We comment on their druggability or drawbacks that prevent them from becoming drugs. This Perspective sheds light on the future development of Mpro inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and future coronavirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaifu Gao
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Jiahui Chen
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Jetze J Tepe
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Faqing Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Guo-Wei Wei
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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12
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ACE2 : S1 RBD Interaction-Targeted Peptides and Small Molecules as Potential COVID-19 Therapeutics. Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 2021; 2021:1828792. [PMID: 34746794 PMCID: PMC8564205 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1828792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic that began in late 2019 continues with new challenges arising due to antigenic drift as well as individuals who cannot or choose not to take the vaccine. There is therefore an urgent need for additional therapies that complement vaccines and approved therapies such as antibodies in the fight to end or slow down the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 initiates invasion of the human target cell through direct contact between the receptor-binding domain of its Spike protein and its cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). The ACE2 and S1 RBD interaction, therefore, represents an attractive therapeutic intervention to prevent viral entry and spread. In this study, we developed a proximity-based AlphaScreen™ assay that can be utilized to quickly and efficiently screen for inhibitors that perturb the ACE2 : S1 RBD interaction. We then designed several peptides candidates from motifs in ACE2 and S1 RBD that play critical roles in the interaction, with and without modifications to the native sequences. We also assessed the possibility of reprofiling of candidate small molecules that previously have been shown to interfere with the viral entry of SARS-CoV. Using our optimized AlphaScreen™ assay, we evaluated the activity and specificity of these peptides and small molecules in inhibiting the binding of ACE2 : S1 RBD. This screen identified cepharanthine as a promising candidate for development as a SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor.
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13
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Mozafari Z, Chamjangali MA, Arashi M, Goudarzi N. Suggestion of active 3-chymotrypsin like protease (3CL Pro) inhibitors as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents using predictive QSAR model based on the combination of ALASSO with an ANN model. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 32:863-888. [PMID: 34634208 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2021.1975167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) was introduced as an epidemic in 2019 and had millions of deaths worldwide. Given the importance of this disease, the recommendation and design of new active compounds are crucial. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3 CLpro) inhibitors have been identified as potent compounds for treating SARS-CoV-2 disease. So, the design of new 3 CLpro inhibitors was proposed using a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study. In this context, a powerful adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (ALASSO) penalized variable selection method with inherent advantages coupled with a nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) modelling method were used to provide a QSAR model with high interpretability and predictability. After evaluating the accuracy and validity of the developed ALASSO-ANN model, new compounds were proposed using effective descriptors, and the biological activity of the new compounds was predicted. Ligand-receptor (LR) interactions were also performed to confirm the interaction strength of the compounds using molecular docking (MD) study. The pharmacokinetics properties and calculated Lipinski's rule of five were applied to all proposed compounds. Due to the ease of synthesis of these suggested new compounds, it is expected that they have acceptable pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Mozafari
- Department of Chemistry, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
| | - M Arab Chamjangali
- Department of Chemistry, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
| | - M Arashi
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - N Goudarzi
- Department of Chemistry, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
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14
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Kosugi T, Ohue M. Quantitative Estimate Index for Early-Stage Screening of Compounds Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10925. [PMID: 34681589 PMCID: PMC8539639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-likeness quantification is useful for screening drug candidates. Quantitative estimates of drug-likeness (QED) are commonly used to assess quantitative drug efficacy but are not suitable for screening compounds targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs), which have recently gained attention. Therefore, we developed a quantitative estimate index for compounds targeting PPIs (QEPPI), specifically for early-stage screening of PPI-targeting compounds. QEPPI is an extension of the QED method for PPI-targeting drugs that models physicochemical properties based on the information available for drugs/compounds, specifically those reported to act on PPIs. FDA-approved drugs and compounds in iPPI-DB, which comprise PPI inhibitors and stabilizers, were evaluated using QEPPI. The results showed that QEPPI is more suitable than QED for early screening of PPI-targeting compounds. QEPPI was also considered an extended concept of the "Rule-of-Four" (RO4), a PPI inhibitor index. We evaluated the discriminatory performance of QEPPI and RO4 for datasets of PPI-target compounds and FDA-approved drugs using F-score and other indices. The F-scores of RO4 and QEPPI were 0.451 and 0.501, respectively. QEPPI showed better performance and enabled quantification of drug-likeness for early-stage PPI drug discovery. Hence, it can be used as an initial filter to efficiently screen PPI-targeting compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masahito Ohue
- Department of Computer Science, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G3-56-4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Kanagawa, Japan;
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15
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Malik YS, Kumar P, Ansari MI, Hemida MG, El Zowalaty ME, Abdel-Moneim AS, Ganesh B, Salajegheh S, Natesan S, Sircar S, Safdar M, Vinodhkumar OR, Duarte PM, Patel SK, Klein J, Rahimi P, Dhama K. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Extrapolation for COVID Diagnosis and Vaccine Development. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:607886. [PMID: 34395515 PMCID: PMC8355592 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.607886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affecting nearly 71.2 million humans in more than 191 countries, with more than 1.6 million mortalities as of 12 December, 2020. The spike glycoprotein (S-protein), anchored onto the virus envelope, is the trimer of S-protein comprised of S1 and S2 domains which interacts with host cell receptors and facilitates virus-cell membrane fusion. The S1 domain comprises of a receptor binding domain (RBD) possessing an N-terminal domain and two subdomains (SD1 and SD2). Certain regions of S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 such as S2 domain and fragment of the RBD remain conserved despite the high selection pressure. These conserved regions of the S-protein are extrapolated as the potential target for developing molecular diagnostic techniques. Further, the S-protein acts as an antigenic target for different serological assay platforms for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Virus-specific IgM and IgG antibodies can be used to detect viral proteins in ELISA and lateral flow immunoassays. The S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 has very high sequence similarity to SARS-CoV-1, and the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-1 cross-react with S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 and neutralize its activity. Furthermore, in vitro studies have demonstrated that polyclonal antibodies targeted against the RBD of S-protein of SARS-CoV-1 can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 thus inhibiting its infectivity in permissive cell lines. Research on coronaviral S-proteins paves the way for the development of vaccines that may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and alleviate the current global coronavirus pandemic. However, specific neutralizing mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 are in clinical development. Therefore, neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 S-protein are promising specific antiviral therapeutics for pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hereby review the approaches taken by researchers across the world to use spike gene and S-glycoprotein for the development of effective diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics against SARA-CoV-2 infection the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashpal S. Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Mohd Ikram Ansari
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | - Maged G. Hemida
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E. El Zowalaty
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim
- Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Taif University, Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Virology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Balasubramanian Ganesh
- Laboratory Division, Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Chennai, India
| | - Sina Salajegheh
- Young Researchers and Elites Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shubhankar Sircar
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Muhammad Safdar
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Cholistan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - O. R. Vinodhkumar
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Phelipe M. Duarte
- Veterinarian, Professor at the Faculty of Biological and Health Sciences, Universidade de Cuiabá, Primavera do Leste, Brazil
| | - Shailesh K. Patel
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Jörn Klein
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Norway
| | - Parastoo Rahimi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
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16
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Raj K, Kaur K, Gupta GD, Singh S. Current understanding on molecular drug targets and emerging treatment strategy for novel coronavirus-19. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 394:1383-1402. [PMID: 33961065 PMCID: PMC8102151 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-021-02091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus, contain crown-like spikes on its surface, exceptional of large RNA genome, and a special replication machinery. Common symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 include cough, common cold, fever, sore throat, and a variety of severe acute respiratory disease (SARD) such as pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 infects epithelial cells, T-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells and also influences the production and implantation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Repurposing of various drugs during this emergency condition can reduce the rate of mortality as well as time and cost. Two druggable protein and enzyme targets have been selected in this review article due to their crucial role in the viral life cycle. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF4A), cyclophilin, nucleocapsid protein, spike protein, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) play significant role in early and late phase of SARS-CoV-2 replication and translation. This review paper is based on the rationale of inhibiting of various SARS-CoV-2 proteins and enzymes as novel therapeutic approaches for the management and treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also discussed the structural and functional relationship of different proteins and enzymes to develop therapeutic approaches for novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadga Raj
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Karamjeet Kaur
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - G D Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Shamsher Singh
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
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17
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Najafi Fard S, Petrone L, Petruccioli E, Alonzi T, Matusali G, Colavita F, Castilletti C, Capobianchi MR, Goletti D. In Vitro Models for Studying Entry, Tissue Tropism, and Therapeutic Approaches of Highly Pathogenic Coronaviruses. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:8856018. [PMID: 34239932 PMCID: PMC8221881 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8856018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped nonsegmented positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to the family Coronaviridae that contain the largest genome among RNA viruses. Their genome encodes 4 major structural proteins, and among them, the Spike (S) protein plays a crucial role in determining the viral tropism. It mediates viral attachment to the host cell, fusion to the membranes, and cell entry using cellular proteases as activators. Several in vitro models have been developed to study the CoVs entry, pathogenesis, and possible therapeutic approaches. This article is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge about the use of relevant methodologies and cell lines permissive for CoV life cycle studies. The synthesis of this information can be useful for setting up specific experimental procedures. We also discuss different strategies for inhibiting the binding of the S protein to the cell receptors and the fusion process which may offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Najafi Fard
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Petrone
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Petruccioli
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Tonino Alonzi
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Colavita
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Castilletti
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Capobianchi
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
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18
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Bojadzic D, Alcazar O, Chen J, Chuang ST, Capcha JMC, Shehadeh LA, Buchwald P. Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Coronavirus Spike: ACE2 Protein-Protein Interaction as Blockers of Viral Attachment and Entry for SARS-CoV-2. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1519-1534. [PMID: 33979123 PMCID: PMC8130611 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhibitors of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and human ACE2 (hACE2), which acts as a ligand-receptor pair that initiates the viral attachment and cellular entry of this coronavirus causing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are of considerable interest as potential antiviral agents. While blockade of such PPIs with small molecules is more challenging than that with antibodies, small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) might offer alternatives that are less strain- and mutation-sensitive, suitable for oral or inhaled administration, and more controllable/less immunogenic. Here, we report the identification of SMIs of this PPI by screening our compound library focused around the chemical space of organic dyes. Among promising candidates identified, several dyes (Congo red, direct violet 1, Evans blue) and novel druglike compounds (DRI-C23041, DRI-C91005) inhibited the interaction of hACE2 with the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 as well as SARS-CoV with low micromolar activity in our cell-free ELISA-type assays (IC50's of 0.2-3.0 μM), whereas control compounds, such as sunset yellow FCF, chloroquine, and suramin, showed no activity. Protein thermal shift assays indicated that the SMIs of interest identified here bind SARS-CoV-2-S and not hACE2. While dyes seemed to be promiscuous inhibitors, DRI-C23041 showed some selectivity and inhibited the entry of two different SARS-CoV-2-S expressing pseudoviruses into hACE2-expressing cells in a concentration-dependent manner with low micromolar IC50's (6-7 μM). This provides proof-of-principle evidence for the feasibility of small-molecule inhibition of PPIs critical for SARS-CoV-2 attachment/entry and serves as a first guide in the search for SMI-based alternative antiviral therapies for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by coronaviruses in general and COVID-19 in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damir Bojadzic
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Oscar Alcazar
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jinshui Chen
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sung-Ting Chuang
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jose M. Condor Capcha
- Division of Cardiology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Lina A. Shehadeh
- Division of Cardiology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Peter Buchwald
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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19
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Rai PK, Mueed Z, Chowdhury A, Deval R, Kumar D, Kamal MA, Negi YS, Pareek S, Poddar NK. Current Overviews on COVID-19 Management Strategies. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2021; 23:361-387. [PMID: 33966618 DOI: 10.2174/1389201022666210509022313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the world lately and caused acute respiratory syndrome in humans. The causative agent of the disease was soon brought to focus by scientists as SARS-CoV-2 and later called a novel coronavirus by the general public. Due to the severity and rapid spread of the disease, WHO classifies the COVID-19 pandemic as the 6th public health emergency even after taking efforts like worldwide quarantine and restrictions. Since only symptomatic treatment is available, the best way to control the spread of the virus is by taking preventive measures. Various types of antigen/antibody detection kits and diagnostic methods are available for the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. In recent years, various phytochemicals and repurposing drugs are showing a broad range of anti-viral activities with different modes of action have been identified. Repurposing drugs such as arbidol, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, lopinavir, favipiravir, remdesivir, hexamethylene amiloride, and dexamethasone, tocilizumab, interferon-β, neutralizing antibodies exhibit in vitro anti-coronaviral properties by inhibiting multiple processes in the virus life cycle. Various research groups are involved in drug trials and vaccine development. Plant-based anti-viral compounds such as baicalin, calanolides, curcumin, oxymatrine, matrine, and resveratrol exhibit different modes of action against a wide range of positive/negative sense-RNA/DNA virus, and future researches need to be conducted to ascertain their role, use in managing SARS-CoV-2. Thus, this article is an attempt to review the current understanding of COVID-19 acute respiratory disease and summarize its clinical features with their prospective control and various aspects of the therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Kumar Rai
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Zeba Mueed
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abhiroop Chowdhury
- School of Environment & Sustainability, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
| | - Ravi Deval
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohammad A Kamal
- West China School of Nursing / Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan. China
| | - Yogeshwar Singh Negi
- Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, DehmiKalan, Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur-303007, Rajasthan, India
| | - Shubhra Pareek
- Department of Chemistry, Manipal University Jaipur, DehmiKalan, Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur-303007, Rajasthan, India
| | - Nitesh Kumar Poddar
- Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, DehmiKalan, Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur-303007, Rajasthan, India
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20
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Shiryaev VA, Klimochkin YN. Main Chemotypes of SARS-CoV-2 Reproduction Inhibitors. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2021. [PMCID: PMC8188765 DOI: 10.1134/s107042802105002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced scientists all over the world to focus their effort on searching for targeted drugs for coronavirus chemotherapy. The present review is an attempt to systematize low-molecular-weight compounds, including well-known pharmaceuticals and natural substances that have exhibited high anti-coronavirus activity, not in terms of action on their targets, but in terms of their structural type.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Shiryaev
- Samara State Technical University, 443100 Samara, Russia
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21
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Chang CK, Lin SM, Satange R, Lin SC, Sun SC, Wu HY, Kehn-Hall K, Hou MH. Targeting protein-protein interaction interfaces in COVID-19 drug discovery. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2246-2255. [PMID: 33936565 PMCID: PMC8064971 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 1 million human lives, infected another 50 million individuals and wreaked havoc on the global economy. The crisis has spurred the ongoing development of drugs targeting its etiological agent, the SARS-CoV-2. Targeting relevant protein-protein interaction interfaces (PPIIs) is a viable paradigm for the design of antiviral drugs and enriches the targetable chemical space by providing alternative targets for drug discovery. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the theory, methods and applications of PPII-targeted drug development towards COVID-19 based on recent literature. We will also highlight novel developments, such as the successful use of non-native protein-protein interactions as targets for antiviral drug screening. We hope that this review may serve as an entry point for those interested in applying PPIIs towards COVID-19 drug discovery and speed up drug development against the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Ke Chang
- Taiwan Biobank, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Meng Lin
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Roshan Satange
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chao Lin
- Bachelor Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Sin-Cih Sun
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Kylene Kehn-Hall
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Ming-Hon Hou
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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22
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Amin SA, Banerjee S, Gayen S, Jha T. Protease targeted COVID-19 drug discovery: What we have learned from the past SARS-CoV inhibitors? Eur J Med Chem 2021; 215:113294. [PMID: 33618158 PMCID: PMC7880840 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The fascinating similarity between the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, inspires scientific community to investigate deeper into the SARS-CoV proteases such as main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) and their inhibitors for the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors. Because of the similarity in the proteases of these two corona viruses, there is a greater chance for the previous SARS-CoV Mpro and PLpro inhibitors to provide effective results against SARS-CoV-2. In this context, the molecular fragments from the SARS-CoV protease inhibitors through the fragment-based drug design and discovery technique can be useful guidance for COVID-19 drug discovery. Here, we have focused on the structure-activity relationship studies of previous SARS-CoV protease inhibitors and discussed about crucial fragments generated from previous SARS-CoV protease inhibitors important for the lead optimization of SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors. This study surely offers different strategic options of lead optimization to the medicinal chemists to discover effective anti-viral agent against the devastating disease, COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Abdul Amin
- Natural Science Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, P. O. Box 17020, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Suvankar Banerjee
- Natural Science Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, P. O. Box 17020, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Shovanlal Gayen
- Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, MP, India.
| | - Tarun Jha
- Natural Science Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, P. O. Box 17020, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India.
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23
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Kathiravan MK, Radhakrishnan S, Namasivayam V, Palaniappan S. An Overview of Spike Surface Glycoprotein in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:637550. [PMID: 33898518 PMCID: PMC8058706 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.637550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus originated in December 2019 in Hubei, China. This contagious disease named as COVID-19 resulted in a massive expansion within 6 months by spreading to more than 213 countries. Despite the availability of antiviral drugs for the treatment of various viral infections, it was concluded by the WHO that there is no medicine to treat novel CoV, SARS-CoV-2. It has been confirmed that SARS-COV-2 is the most highly virulent human coronavirus and occupies the third position following SARS and MERS with the highest mortality rate. The genetic assembly of SARS-CoV-2 is segmented into structural and non-structural proteins, of which two-thirds of the viral genome encodes non-structural proteins and the remaining genome encodes structural proteins. The most predominant structural proteins that make up SARS-CoV-2 include spike surface glycoproteins (S), membrane proteins (M), envelope proteins (E), and nucleocapsid proteins (N). This review will focus on one of the four major structural proteins in the CoV assembly, the spike, which is involved in host cell recognition and the fusion process. The monomer disintegrates into S1 and S2 subunits with the S1 domain necessitating binding of the virus to its host cell receptor and the S2 domain mediating the viral fusion. On viral infection by the host, the S protein is further cleaved by the protease enzyme to two major subdomains S1/S2. Spike is proven to be an interesting target for developing vaccines and in particular, the RBD-single chain dimer has shown initial success. The availability of small molecules and peptidic inhibitors for host cell receptors is briefly discussed. The development of new molecules and therapeutic druggable targets for SARS-CoV-2 is of global importance. Attacking the virus employing multiple targets and strategies is the best way to inhibit the virus. This article will appeal to researchers in understanding the structural and biological aspects of the S protein in the field of drug design and discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthu Kumaradoss Kathiravan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Tamil Nadu, India
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Research Lab, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Srimathi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Tamil Nadu, India
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Research Lab, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Tamil Nadu, India
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24
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Verma J, Subbarao N. A comparative study of human betacoronavirus spike proteins: structure, function and therapeutics. Arch Virol 2021; 166:697-714. [PMID: 33483791 PMCID: PMC7821988 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-04961-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are the paradigm of emerging 21st century zoonotic viruses, triggering numerous outbreaks and a severe global health crisis. The current COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 51 million people across the globe as of 12 November 2020. The crown-like spikes on the surface of the virion are the unique structural feature of viruses in the family Coronaviridae. The spike (S) protein adopts distinct conformations while mediating entry of the virus into the host. This multifunctional protein mediates the entry process by recognizing its receptor on the host cell, followed by the fusion of the viral membrane with the host cell membrane. This review article focuses on the structural and functional comparison of S proteins of the human betacoronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we review the current state of knowledge about receptor recognition, the membrane fusion mechanism, structural epitopes, and glycosylation sites of the S proteins of these viruses. We further discuss various vaccines and other therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and small molecules based on the S protein of these three viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Verma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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25
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Gorgulla C, Padmanabha Das KM, Leigh KE, Cespugli M, Fischer PD, Wang ZF, Tesseyre G, Pandita S, Shnapir A, Calderaio A, Gechev M, Rose A, Lewis N, Hutcheson C, Yaffe E, Luxenburg R, Herce HD, Durmaz V, Halazonetis TD, Fackeldey K, Patten J, Chuprina A, Dziuba I, Plekhova A, Moroz Y, Radchenko D, Tarkhanova O, Yavnyuk I, Gruber C, Yust R, Payne D, Näär AM, Namchuk MN, Davey RA, Wagner G, Kinney J, Arthanari H. A multi-pronged approach targeting SARS-CoV-2 proteins using ultra-large virtual screening. iScience 2021; 24:102021. [PMID: 33426509 PMCID: PMC7783459 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.102021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The unparalleled global effort to combat the continuing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic over the last year has resulted in promising prophylactic measures. However, a need still exists for cheap, effective therapeutics, and targeting multiple points in the viral life cycle could help tackle the current, as well as future, coronaviruses. Here, we leverage our recently developed, ultra-large-scale in silico screening platform, VirtualFlow, to search for inhibitors that target SARS-CoV-2. In this unprecedented structure-based virtual campaign, we screened roughly 1 billion molecules against each of 40 different target sites on 17 different potential viral and host targets. In addition to targeting the active sites of viral enzymes, we also targeted critical auxiliary sites such as functionally important protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Gorgulla
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Krishna M. Padmanabha Das
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kendra E. Leigh
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen 60438, Germany
| | | | - Patrick D. Fischer
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Saarland 66123, Germany
| | - Zi-Fu Wang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anthony Calderaio
- VirtualFlow Organization, https://virtual-flow.org/, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Alexander Rose
- Mol∗ Consortium, https://molstar.org, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Henry D. Herce
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | | | - Konstantin Fackeldey
- Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB), Berlin 14195, Germany
- Institute of Mathematics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin 10587, Germany
| | - J.J. Patten
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yurii Moroz
- Chemspace, Kyiv 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Radchenko
- Enamine, Kyiv 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
| | | | | | - Christian Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz 8010, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Ryan Yust
- Google, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | | | - Anders M. Näär
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mark N. Namchuk
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert A. Davey
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Gerhard Wagner
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Haribabu Arthanari
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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26
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Esmail S, Danter W. Viral pandemic preparedness: A pluripotent stem cell-based machine-learning platform for simulating SARS-CoV-2 infection to enable drug discovery and repurposing. Stem Cells Transl Med 2021; 10:239-250. [PMID: 32961040 PMCID: PMC7537153 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus has rapidly become a global pandemic for which we were not prepared. Several clinical trials using previously approved drugs and drug combinations are urgently under way to improve the current situation. A vaccine option has only recently become available, but worldwide distribution is still a challenge. It is imperative that, for future viral pandemic preparedness, we have a rapid screening technology for drug discovery and repurposing. The primary purpose of this research project was to evaluate the DeepNEU stem-cell based platform by creating and validating computer simulations of artificial lung cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 to enable the rapid identification of antiviral therapeutic targets and drug repurposing. The data generated from this project indicate that (a) human alveolar type lung cells can be simulated by DeepNEU (v5.0), (b) these simulated cells can then be infected with simulated SARS-CoV-2 virus, (c) the unsupervised learning system performed well in all simulations based on available published wet lab data, and (d) the platform identified potentially effective anti-SARS-CoV2 combinations of known drugs for urgent clinical study. The data also suggest that DeepNEU can identify potential therapeutic targets for expedited vaccine development. We conclude that based on published data plus current DeepNEU results, continued development of the DeepNEU platform will improve our preparedness for and response to future viral outbreaks. This can be achieved through rapid identification of potential therapeutic options for clinical testing as soon as the viral genome has been confirmed.
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27
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Vougogiannopoulou K, Corona A, Tramontano E, Alexis MN, Skaltsounis AL. Natural and Nature-Derived Products Targeting Human Coronaviruses. Molecules 2021; 26:448. [PMID: 33467029 PMCID: PMC7831024 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus (HCoV), has brought the international scientific community before a state of emergency that needs to be addressed with intensive research for the discovery of pharmacological agents with antiviral activity. Potential antiviral natural products (NPs) have been discovered from plants of the global biodiversity, including extracts, compounds and categories of compounds with activity against several viruses of the respiratory tract such as HCoVs. However, the scarcity of natural products (NPs) and small-molecules (SMs) used as antiviral agents, especially for HCoVs, is notable. This is a review of 203 publications, which were selected using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, evaluates the available literature since the discovery of the first human coronavirus in the 1960s; it summarizes important aspects of structure, function, and therapeutic targeting of HCoVs as well as NPs (19 total plant extracts and 204 isolated or semi-synthesized pure compounds) with anti-HCoV activity targeting viral and non-viral proteins, while focusing on the advances on the discovery of NPs with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and providing a critical perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Vougogiannopoulou
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece;
| | - Angela Corona
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Biomedical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, E block, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS55409042 Monserrato, Italy; (A.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Biomedical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, E block, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS55409042 Monserrato, Italy; (A.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Michael N. Alexis
- Molecular Endocrinology Team, Inst of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece;
| | - Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece;
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28
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Gul R, Kim UH, Alfadda AA. Renin-angiotensin system at the interface of COVID-19 infection. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 890:173656. [PMID: 33086029 PMCID: PMC7568848 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been recognized as a potential entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 allows engagement with pulmonary epithelial cells and pulmonary infection with the virus. ACE2 is an essential component of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and involved in promoting protective effects to counter-regulate angiotensin (Ang) II-induced pathogenesis. The use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) was implicitly negated during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic, considering the role of these antihypertensive agents in enhancing ACE2 expression thereby promoting the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. However, no clinical data has supported this assumption, but indeed evidence demonstrates that ACEIs and ARBs, besides their cardioprotective effects in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular diseases, might also be beneficial in acute lung injuries by preserving the ACE2 function and switching the balance from deleterious ACE/Ang II/AT1 receptor axis towards a protective ACE2/Ang (1-7)/Mas receptor axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukhsana Gul
- Obesity Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Uh-Hyun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry & National Creative Research Laboratory for Ca(2+) Signaling, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, 54907, Republic of Korea
| | - Assim A Alfadda
- Obesity Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925, Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia; Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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29
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Konwar M, Sarma D. Advances in developing small molecule SARS 3CL pro inhibitors as potential remedy for corona virus infection. Tetrahedron 2021; 77:131761. [PMID: 33230349 PMCID: PMC7674993 DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2020.131761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Originated in China, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)- the highly contagious and fatal respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 has already infected more than 29 million people worldwide with a mortality rate of 3.15% (according to World Health Organization's (WHO's) report, September 2020) and the number is exponentially increasing with no remedy whatsoever discovered till date. But it is not the first time this infectious viral disease has appeared, in 2002 SARS-CoV infected more than 8000 individuals of which 9.6% patients died and in 2012 approximately 35% of MERS-CoV infected patients have died. Literature reports indicate that a chymotripsin-like cystein protease (3CLpro) is responsible for the replication of the virus inside the host cell. Therefore, design and synthesis of 3CLpro inhibitor molecules play a great impact in drug development against this COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we are discussing the anti-SARS effect of some small molecule 3CLpro inhibitors with their various binding modes of interactions to the target protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manashjyoti Konwar
- Department of Chemistry, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, 786004, Assam, India
- Department of Chemistry, Dibru College, Dibrugarh, 786003, Assam, India
| | - Diganta Sarma
- Department of Chemistry, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, 786004, Assam, India
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30
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Pillaiyar T, Wendt LL, Manickam M, Easwaran M. The recent outbreaks of human coronaviruses: A medicinal chemistry perspective. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:72-135. [PMID: 32852058 PMCID: PMC7461420 DOI: 10.1002/med.21724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) infect both humans and animals. In humans, CoVs can cause respiratory, kidney, heart, brain, and intestinal infections that can range from mild to lethal. Since the start of the 21st century, three β-coronaviruses have crossed the species barrier to infect humans: severe-acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-1, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV). These viruses are dangerous and can easily be transmitted from human to human. Therefore, the development of anticoronaviral therapies is urgently needed. However, to date, no approved vaccines or drugs against CoV infections are available. In this review, we focus on the medicinal chemistry efforts toward the development of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, targeting biochemical events important for viral replication and its life cycle. These targets include the spike glycoprotein and its host-receptors for viral entry, proteases that are essential for cleaving polyproteins to produce functional proteins, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for viral RNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Lukas L. Wendt
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Manoj Manickam
- Department of ChemistryPSG Institute of Technology and Applied ResearchCoimbatoreTamil NaduIndia
| | - Maheswaran Easwaran
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringSethu Institute of TechnologyVirudhunagarTamilnaduIndia
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31
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Hanson QM, Wilson KM, Shen M, Itkin Z, Eastman RT, Shinn P, Hall MD. Targeting ACE2-RBD Interaction as a Platform for COVID-19 Therapeutics: Development and Drug-Repurposing Screen of an AlphaLISA Proximity Assay. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:1352-1360. [PMID: 33330843 PMCID: PMC7688046 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The
COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a pressing public
health emergency garnering a rapid response from scientists across
the globe. Host cell invasion is initiated through direct binding
of the viral spike protein to the host receptor angiotensin-converting
enzyme 2 (ACE2). Disrupting the spike protein–ACE2 interaction
is a potential therapeutic target for treating COVID-19. We have developed
a proximity-based AlphaLISA assay to measure the binding of SARS-CoV-2
spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) to ACE2. Utilizing this
assay platform, a drug-repurposing screen against 3384 small-molecule
drugs and preclinical compounds was carried out, yielding 25 high-quality
primary hits, of which only corilagin was validated in cherry-picking.
This established AlphaLISA RBD–ACE2 platform can facilitate
evaluation of biologics or small molecules that can perturb this essential
viral–host interaction to further the development of interventions
to address the global health pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinlin M Hanson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Kelli M Wilson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Zina Itkin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Richard T Eastman
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, United States
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Silva LR, da Silva Santos-Júnior PF, de Andrade Brandão J, Anderson L, Bassi ÊJ, Xavier de Araújo-Júnior J, Cardoso SH, da Silva-Júnior EF. Druggable targets from coronaviruses for designing new antiviral drugs. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115745. [PMID: 33007557 PMCID: PMC7836322 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe respiratory infections were highlighted in the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2002, as well as MERS-CoV, in 2012. Recently, the novel CoV (COVID-19) has led to severe respiratory damage to humans and deaths in Asia, Europe, and Americas, which allowed the WHO to declare the pandemic state. Notwithstanding all impacts caused by Coronaviruses, it is evident that the development of new antiviral agents is an unmet need. In this review, we provide a complete compilation of all potential antiviral agents targeting macromolecular structures from these Coronaviruses (Coronaviridae), providing a medicinal chemistry viewpoint that could be useful for designing new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Rocha Silva
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Synthesis, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus Arapiraca, Manoel Severino Barbosa Avenue, Arapiraca 57309-005, Brazil
| | | | - Júlia de Andrade Brandão
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Letícia Anderson
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; CESMAC University Center, Cônego Machado Street, Maceió 57051-160, Brazil
| | - Ênio José Bassi
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - João Xavier de Araújo-Júnior
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Sílvia Helena Cardoso
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Synthesis, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus Arapiraca, Manoel Severino Barbosa Avenue, Arapiraca 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil.
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Xiu S, Dick A, Ju H, Mirzaie S, Abdi F, Cocklin S, Zhan P, Liu X. Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Entry: Current and Future Opportunities. J Med Chem 2020; 63:12256-12274. [PMID: 32539378 PMCID: PMC7315836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, a novel coronavirus initially designated 2019-nCoV but now termed SARS-CoV-2 has emerged and raised global concerns due to its virulence. SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of "coronavirus disease 2019", abbreviated to COVID-19, which despite only being identified at the very end of 2019, has now been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). At this time, no specific prophylactic or postexposure therapy for COVID-19 are currently available. Viral entry is the first step in the SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle and is mediated by the trimeric spike protein. Being the first stage in infection, entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells is an extremely attractive therapeutic intervention point. Within this review, we highlight therapeutic intervention strategies for anti-SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and other coronaviruses and speculate upon future directions for SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Xiu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Alexej Dick
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Rooms 10307, 10309, and 10315, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Han Ju
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Sako Mirzaie
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj 6616935391, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Abdi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran 1651153311, Iran
| | - Simon Cocklin
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Rooms 10307, 10309, and 10315, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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Dubey A, Dahiya S, Rouse BT, Sehrawat S. Perspective: Reducing SARS-CoV2 Infectivity and Its Associated Immunopathology. Front Immunol 2020; 11:581076. [PMID: 33193385 PMCID: PMC7642257 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.581076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has become difficult to contain in our interconnected world. In this article, we discuss some approaches that could reduce the consequences of COVID-19. We elaborate upon the utility of camelid single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), also referred to as nanobodies, which are naturally poised to neutralize viruses without enhancing its infectivity. Smaller sized sdAbs can be easily selected using microbes or the subcellular organelle display methods and can neutralize SARS-CoV2 infectivity. We also discuss issues related to their production using scalable platforms. The favorable outcome of the infection is evident in patients when the inflammatory response is adequately curtailed. Therefore, we discuss approaches to mitigate hyperinflammatory reactions initiated by SARS-CoV2 but orchestrated by immune mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Dubey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Surbhi Dahiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Barry T. Rouse
- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Sharvan Sehrawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
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35
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Samrat SK, Tharappel AM, Li Z, Li H. Prospect of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Potential role in vaccine and therapeutic development. Virus Res 2020; 288:198141. [PMID: 32846196 PMCID: PMC7443330 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreak of the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has become a significant concern to public health care worldwide. As of August 19, 2020, more than 22,140,472 people are infected, and over 781,135 people have died due to this deadly virus. In the USA alone, over 5,482,602 people are currently infected, and more than 171,823 people have died. SARS-CoV-2 has shown a higher infectivity rate and a more extended incubation period as compared to previous coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 binds much more strongly than SARS-CoV to the same host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Previously, several methods to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV have been tried with limited success. Since SARS-CoV-2 uses the spike (S) protein for entry to the host cell, it is one of the most preferred targets for making vaccines or therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we have summarised the characteristics of the S protein, as well as the different approaches being used for the development of vaccines and/or therapeutics based on the S protein.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis
- Antibody-Dependent Enhancement/drug effects
- Betacoronavirus/drug effects
- Betacoronavirus/immunology
- Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity
- COVID-19
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology
- Coronavirus Infections/immunology
- Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Genetic Vectors/chemistry
- Genetic Vectors/immunology
- Humans
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Pandemics/prevention & control
- Patient Safety
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/immunology
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology
- Pneumonia, Viral/immunology
- Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Receptors, Virus/genetics
- Receptors, Virus/immunology
- Receptors, Virus/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Vaccines, Attenuated
- Vaccines, DNA
- Vaccines, Subunit
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/biosynthesis
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Viral Vaccines/biosynthesis
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Subodh Kumar Samrat
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Anil M Tharappel
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Hongmin Li
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
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36
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Krishna G, Pillai VS, Veettil MV. Approaches and advances in the development of potential therapeutic targets and antiviral agents for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 885:173450. [PMID: 32739174 PMCID: PMC7834013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Virus onslaughts continue to spread fear and cause rampage across the world every now and then. The twenty first century is yet again witnessing a gross global pandemic, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Globally no vaccines or drug specific to COVID-19 is available. Corona viruses have been in mutual relationship with humans and other hosts over many decades though aggressive zoonotic strains have caused havoc. Zoonotic emergent corona viruses prior to SARS-COV-2 included severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), with the former leading to aggressive infectious spread and the later with high mortality rate. Although they emerged in the early period of the twenty first century, resilient biomedical and expertise in pharmaceutical domain could not appropriate any proprietary therapeutics. Studies envisaged towards curtailing their spread employed different stages of the virus life cycle with all zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) sharing genomic and structural similarities. Hence the strategies against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV could prove effective against the recent outbreak of SAR-CoV-2. The review unravels key events involved in the lifecycle of SARS-CoV-2 while highlighting the possible avenues of therapy. The review also holds the scope in better understanding a broad-spectrum antivirals, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors against viral glycoproteins, host cell receptor, viral mRNA synthesis, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and viral proteases in order to design and develop antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2.
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37
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Zhou QA, Kato-Weinstein J, Li Y, Deng Y, Granet R, Garner L, Liu C, Polshakov D, Gessner C, Watkins S. Potential Therapeutic Agents and Associated Bioassay Data for COVID-19 and Related Human Coronavirus Infections. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:813-834. [PMID: 33062950 PMCID: PMC7447080 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has led to several million confirmed cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. To support the ongoing research and development of COVID-19 therapeutics, this report provides an overview of protein targets and corresponding potential drug candidates with bioassay and structure-activity relationship data found in the scientific literature and patents for COVID-19 or related virus infections. Highlighted are several sets of small molecules and biologics that act on specific targets, including 3CLpro, PLpro, RdRp, S-protein-ACE2 interaction, helicase/NTPase, TMPRSS2, and furin, which are involved in the viral life cycle or in other aspects of the disease pathophysiology. We hope this report will be valuable to the ongoing drug repurposing efforts and the discovery of new therapeutics with the potential for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongqiong Angela Zhou
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | | | - Yingzhu Li
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Yi Deng
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Roger Granet
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Linda Garner
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Cynthia Liu
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Dmitrii Polshakov
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Chris Gessner
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Steven Watkins
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
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38
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Coelho C, Gallo G, Campos CB, Hardy L, Würtele M. Biochemical screening for SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240079. [PMID: 33022015 PMCID: PMC7537881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic represents a global challenge. SARS-CoV-2's ability to replicate in host cells relies on the action of its non-structural proteins, like its main protease (Mpro). This cysteine protease acts by processing the viruses' precursor polyproteins. As proteases, together with polymerases, are main targets of antiviral drug design, we here have performed biochemical high throughput screening (HTS) with recombinantly expressed SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. A fluorescent assay was used to identify inhibitors in a compound library containing known drugs, bioactive molecules and natural products. These screens led to the identification of 13 inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 μM to 23 μM. The screens confirmed several known SARS-CoV Mpro inhibitors as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, such as the organo-mercuric compounds thimerosal and phenylmercuric acetate. Benzophenone derivatives could also be identified among the most potent screening hits. Additionally, Evans blue, a sulfonic acid-containing dye, could be identified as an Mpro inhibitor. The obtained compounds could be of interest as lead compounds for the development of future SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Coelho
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Gloria Gallo
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Claudia B Campos
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Leon Hardy
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Martin Würtele
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil
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39
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Sabarimurugan S, Dharmarajan A, Warrier S, Subramanian M, Swaminathan R. Comprehensive review on the prevailing COVID-19 therapeutics and the potential of repurposing SARS-CoV-1 candidate drugs to target SARS-CoV-2 as a fast-track treatment and prevention option. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:1247. [PMID: 33178779 PMCID: PMC7607133 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-4071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The recent seemingly uncontrollable pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been able to spread quickly due to the non-availability of effective antivirals or vaccines. The virus has structural and non-structural proteins that are considered as possible targets. Receptor recognition is the critical determinant and preliminary phase of viral infection to enter the host cell and causes tissue tropism. We have conducted a comprehensive review of relevant publication on in vitro, in silico, in vivo and clinical evaluation of drug candidates ranging from broad-spectrum antivirals to natural molecules targeted towards viral spike protein in addition to evaluate their suitability as therapies based on an analysis of the similarities between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. In general, antiviral targets are based on two strategies, either targeting the host or the host’s immune cell. We have reviewed the available details on the SARS-CoV-2 strain’s host-viral binding sites entry mechanism, alongside recently tested effective antivirals. The hypothesis of this review may provide clear insight for researchers and physicians who are struggling to narrow down scientific options to control the current pandemic. Overall, we found that the promising efficacious drug candidates reported against SARS-CoV-1 could be considered for drug repurposing; this might help to identify a potential drug for therapeutic measures and development of vaccine for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanthi Sabarimurugan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Arun Dharmarajan
- CHIRI, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India.,Department of Human Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Sudha Warrier
- CHIRI, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bangalore, India
| | - Maheswari Subramanian
- Department of Microbiology, Centre for Research and PG Studies, Indian Academy of Degree College (Aut), Bangalore, India
| | - Rajarajan Swaminathan
- Centre for Drug Design, Discovery and Development, SRM University, Sonipat, Haryana, New Delhi, India
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40
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Vallamkondu J, John A, Wani WY, Ramadevi SP, Jella KK, Reddy PH, Kandimalla R. SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology and assessment of coronaviruses in CNS diseases with a focus on therapeutic targets. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165889. [PMID: 32603829 PMCID: PMC7320676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The novel Coronavirus disease of 2019 (nCOV-19) is a viral outbreak noted first in Wuhan, China. This disease is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus (CoV)-2. In the past, other members of the coronavirus family, such as SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), have made an impact in China and the Arabian peninsula respectively. Both SARS and COVID-19 share similar symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing that can become fatal in later stages. However, SARS and MERS infections were epidemic diseases constrained to limited regions. By March 2020 the SARS-CoV-2 had spread across the globe and on March 11th, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as pandemic disease. In severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, many patients succumbed to pneumonia. Higher rates of deaths were seen in older patients who had co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dementia. In this review paper, we discuss the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on CNS diseases, such as Alzheimer's-like dementia, and diabetes mellitus. We also focus on the virus genome, pathophysiology, theranostics, and autophagy mechanisms. We will assess the multiorgan failure reported in advanced stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our paper will provide mechanistic clues and therapeutic targets for physicians and investigators to combat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Albin John
- Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Willayat Yousuf Wani
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | | | | | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Professor of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Internal Medicine, Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Neurology, Departments of School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- Department of Biochemistry, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal 506007, Telangana, India; Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India.
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41
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Oany AR, Mia M, Pervin T, Junaid M, Hosen SMZ, Moni MA. Design of novel viral attachment inhibitors of the spike glycoprotein (S) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) through virtual screening and dynamics. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2020; 56:106177. [PMID: 32987103 PMCID: PMC7518233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
To date, the global COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with 11.8 million cases and over 545481 deaths. In this study, we have employed virtual screening approaches and selected 415 lead-like compounds from 103 million chemical substances, based on the existing drugs, from PubChem databases as potential candidates for the S protein-mediated viral attachment inhibition. Thereafter, based on drug-likeness and Lipinski's rules, 44 lead-like compounds were docked within the active side pocket of the viral-host attachment site of the S protein. Corresponding ligand properties and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profile were measured. Furthermore, four novel inhibitors were designed and assessed computationally for efficacy. Comparative analysis showed the screened compounds in this study maintain better results than the proposed mother compounds, VE607 and SSAA09E2. The four designed novel lead compounds possessed more fascinating output without deviating from any of Lipinski's rules. They also showed higher bioavailability and the drug-likeness score was 0.56 and 1.81 compared with VE607 and SSAA09E2, respectively. All the screened compounds and novel compounds showed promising ADMET properties. Among them, the compound AMTM-02 was the best candidate, with a docking score of -7.5 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the binding study was verified by molecular dynamics simulation over 100 ns by assessing the stability of the complex. The proposed screened compounds and the novel compounds may give some breakthroughs for the development of a therapeutic drug to treat SARS-CoV-2 proficiently in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arafat Rahman Oany
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh; Aristopharma Limited, Bangladesh.
| | - Mamun Mia
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmina Pervin
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md Junaid
- Molecular Modeling Drug-design and Discovery Laboratory, Pharmacology Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Chattogram, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - S M Zahid Hosen
- Molecular Modeling Drug-design and Discovery Laboratory, Pharmacology Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Chattogram, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Chattogram, Bangladesh; Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mohammad Ali Moni
- WHO Collaborating Centre on eHealth, UNSW Digital Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
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42
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Pattnaik GP, Chakraborty H. Entry Inhibitors: Efficient Means to Block Viral Infection. J Membr Biol 2020; 253:425-444. [PMID: 32862236 PMCID: PMC7456447 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-020-00136-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emerging and re-emerging viral infections are constant threats to human health and wellbeing. Several strategies have been explored to develop vaccines against these viral diseases. The main effort in the journey of development of vaccines is to neutralize the fusion protein using antibodies. However, significant efforts have been made in discovering peptides and small molecules that inhibit the fusion between virus and host cell, thereby inhibiting the entry of viruses. This class of inhibitors is called entry inhibitors, and they are extremely efficient in reducing viral infection as the entry of the virus is considered as the first step of infection. Nevertheless, these inhibitors are highly selective for a particular virus as antibody-based vaccines. The recent COVID-19 pandemic lets us ponder to shift our attention towards broad-spectrum antiviral agents from the so-called ‘one bug-one drug’ approach. This review discusses peptide and small molecule-based entry inhibitors against class I, II, and III viruses and sheds light on broad-spectrum antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hirak Chakraborty
- School of Chemistry, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, 768 019, India. .,Centre of Excellence in Natural Products and Therapeutics, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, 768 019, India.
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43
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Mascolo A, Scavone C, Rafaniello C, Ferrajolo C, Racagni G, Berrino L, Paolisso G, Rossi F, Capuano A. Renin-Angiotensin System and Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Narrative Review. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:143. [PMID: 32850989 PMCID: PMC7431661 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although clinical manifestations of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), are mainly respiratory symptoms, patients can also develop severe cardiovascular damage. Therefore, understanding the damage caused by SARS-COV-2 to the cardiovascular system and the underlying mechanisms is fundamental. The cardiovascular damage may be related to the imbalance of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) as this virus binds the Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme 2 (ACE2), expressed on the lung alveolar epithelial cells, to enter into cells. Virus internalization may cause a downregulation of ACE2 on host cell surface that could lead to a local increased level of angiotensin II (AII) and a reduced level of angiotensin 1-7 (A1-7). An imbalance between these angiotensins may be responsible for the lung and heart damage. Pharmacological strategies that interfere with the viral attachment to ACE2 (umifenovir and hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine) or that modulate the RAS (analogous of A1-7 and ACE2, losartan) are in clinical development for COVID-19. The use of RAS inhibitors has also become a matter of public concern as these drugs may increase the mRNA expression and levels of ACE2 and impact the virulence and transmission of SARS-COV-2. Data on the effect of RAS inhibitors on ACE2 mRNA expression are scarce. Scientific societies expressed their opinion on continuing the therapy with RAS inhibitors in patients with COVID-19 and underlying cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, RAS may play a role in SARS-COV-2-induced cardiac and pulmonary damage. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of RAS in COVID-19 and to guide decision on the use of RAS inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Mascolo
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Scavone
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Rafaniello
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmen Ferrajolo
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Liberato Berrino
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Paolisso
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Rossi
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa Capuano
- Section of Pharmacology “L. Donatelli”, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Campania Regional Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology, Naples, Italy
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44
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Hosseini-Zare MS, Thilagavathi R, Selvam C. Targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) with structurally diverse inhibitors: a comprehensive review. RSC Adv 2020; 10:28287-28299. [PMID: 35519094 PMCID: PMC9055768 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra04395h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses, which were discovered in 1968, can lead to some human viral disorders, like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome-related (MERS), and, recently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The coronavirus that leads to COVID-19 is rapidly spreading all over the world and is the reason for the deaths of thousands of people. Recent research has revealed that there is about 80% sequence homology between the coronaviruses that cause SARS and COVID-19. Considering this fact, we decided to collect the maximum available information on targets, structures, and inhibitors reported so far for SARS-CoV-1 that could be useful for researchers who work on closely related COVID-19. There are vital proteases, like papain-like protease 2 (PL2pro) and 3C-like protease (3CLpro), or main protease (Mpro), that are involved in and are essential for the replication of SARS coronavirus and so are valuable targets for the treatment of patients affected by this type of virus. SARS-CoV-1 NTPase/helicase plays an important role in the release of several non-structural proteins (nsps), so it is another essential target relating to the viral life cycle. In this paper, we provide extensive information about diverse molecules with anti-SARS activity. In addition to traditional medicinal chemistry outcomes, HTS, virtual screening efforts, and structural insights for better understanding inhibitors and SARS-CoV-1 target complexes are also discussed. This study covers a wide range of anti-SARS agents, particularly SARS-CoV-1 inhibitors, and provides new insights into drug design for the deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam S Hosseini-Zare
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA +1-713-313-7552
| | - Ramasamy Thilagavathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education Coimbatore India
| | - Chelliah Selvam
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA +1-713-313-7552
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45
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Das G, Ghosh S, Garg S, Ghosh S, Jana A, Samat R, Mukherjee N, Roy R, Ghosh S. An overview of key potential therapeutic strategies for combat in the COVID-19 battle. RSC Adv 2020; 10:28243-28266. [PMID: 35685027 PMCID: PMC9127683 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05434h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The sudden ravaging outbreak of a novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, in terms of virulence, severity, and casualties has already overtaken previous versions of coronaviruses, like SARS CoV and MERS CoV. Originating from its epicenter in Wuhan, China, this mutated version of the influenza virus with its associated pandemic effects has engulfed the whole world with awful speed. In the midst of this bewildering situation, medical and scientific communities are on their toes to produce the potential vaccine-mediated eradication of this virus. Though the chances are really high, to date no such panacea has been reported. The time requirements for the onerous procedures of human trials for the successful clinical translation of any vaccine or potential therapeutics are also a major concern. In order to build some resistance against this massive pandemic, the repurposing of some earlier antiviral drugs has been done, along with the refurbishment of some immune-responsive alternative avenues, like monoclonal antibody mediated neutralization, interferon treatment, and plasma therapy. New drugs developed from the RBD domain of the virus spike protein and drugs targeting viral proteases are also undergoing further research and have shown potential from preliminary results. The sole purpose of this review article is to provide a brief collective overview of the recent status of therapeutics advances and approaches, and their current state of implementation for the management of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Das
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur Kolkata 700 032 WB India +91-33-2473-5197 ext. 0284 +91-33-2499-5872
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad 201002 India
| | - Surojit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Shubham Garg
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Satyajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Aniket Jana
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Ramkamal Samat
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Nabanita Mukherjee
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Rajsekhar Roy
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road Karwar Rajasthan 342037 India +91-291-280-1212
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur Kolkata 700 032 WB India +91-33-2473-5197 ext. 0284 +91-33-2499-5872
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad 201002 India
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46
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Gorgulla C, Padmanabha Das KM, Leigh KE, Cespugli M, Fischer PD, Wang ZF, Tesseyre G, Pandita S, Shnapir A, Calderaio A, Gechev M, Rose A, Lewis N, Hutcheson C, Yaffe E, Luxenburg R, Herce HD, Durmaz V, Halazonetis TD, Fackeldey K, Patten JJ, Chuprina A, Dziuba I, Plekhova A, Moroz Y, Radchenko D, Tarkhanova O, Yavnyuk I, Gruber C, Yust R, Payne D, Näär AM, Namchuk MN, Davey RA, Wagner G, Kinney J, Arthanari H. A Multi-Pronged Approach Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Using Ultra-Large Virtual Screening. CHEMRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR CHEMISTRY 2020:12682316. [PMID: 33200116 PMCID: PMC7668741 DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.12682316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously known as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), has spread rapidly across the globe, creating an unparalleled global health burden and spurring a deepening economic crisis. As of July 7th, 2020, almost seven months into the outbreak, there are no approved vaccines and few treatments available. Developing drugs that target multiple points in the viral life cycle could serve as a strategy to tackle the current as well as future coronavirus pandemics. Here we leverage the power of our recently developed in silico screening platform, VirtualFlow, to identify inhibitors that target SARS-CoV-2. VirtualFlow is able to efficiently harness the power of computing clusters and cloud-based computing platforms to carry out ultra-large scale virtual screens. In this unprecedented structure-based multi-target virtual screening campaign, we have used VirtualFlow to screen an average of approximately 1 billion molecules against each of 40 different target sites on 17 different potential viral and host targets in the cloud. In addition to targeting the active sites of viral enzymes, we also target critical auxiliary sites such as functionally important protein-protein interaction interfaces. This multi-target approach not only increases the likelihood of finding a potent inhibitor, but could also help identify a collection of anti-coronavirus drugs that would retain efficacy in the face of viral mutation. Drugs belonging to different regimen classes could be combined to develop possible combination therapies, and top hits that bind at highly conserved sites would be potential candidates for further development as coronavirus drugs. Here, we present the top 200 in silico hits for each target site. While in-house experimental validation of some of these compounds is currently underway, we want to make this array of potential inhibitor candidates available to researchers worldwide in consideration of the pressing need for fast-tracked drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Gorgulla
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Krishna M. Padmanabha Das
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Patrick D. Fischer
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Zi-Fu Wang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Henry D. Herce
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Konstantin Fackeldey
- Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Mathematics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Justin J. Patten
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yurii Moroz
- Chemspace, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Radchenko
- Enamine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | | | - Christian Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Anders M. Näär
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, USA
| | - Mark N. Namchuk
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | - Robert A. Davey
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Gerhard Wagner
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | | | - Haribabu Arthanari
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
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47
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Verma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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48
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Hanson QM, Wilson KM, Shen M, Itkin Z, Eastman RT, Shinn P, Hall MD. Targeting ACE2-RBD interaction as a platform for COVID19 therapeutics: Development and drug repurposing screen of an AlphaLISA proximity assay. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32577632 PMCID: PMC7301901 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.16.154708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a pressing public health emergency garnering rapid response from scientists across the globe. Host cell invasion is initiated through direct binding of the viral spike protein to the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Disrupting the spike-ACE2 interaction is a potential therapeutic target for treating COVID-19. We have developed a proximity-based AlphaLISA assay to measure binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) to ACE2. Utilizing this assay platform, a drug-repurposing screen against 3,384 small molecule drugs and pre-clinical compounds was performed, yielding 25 high-quality, small-molecule hits that can be evaluated in cell-based models. This established AlphaLISA RBD-ACE2 platform can facilitate evaluation of biologics or small molecules that can perturb this essential viral-host interaction to further the development of interventions to address the global health pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinlin M Hanson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Kelli M Wilson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Zina Itkin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Richard T Eastman
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
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49
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Ghosh AK, Brindisi M, Shahabi D, Chapman ME, Mesecar AD. Drug Development and Medicinal Chemistry Efforts toward SARS-Coronavirus and Covid-19 Therapeutics. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:907-932. [PMID: 32324951 PMCID: PMC7264561 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is spreading at an alarming rate and has created an unprecedented health emergency around the globe. There is no effective vaccine or approved drug treatment against COVID-19 and other pathogenic coronaviruses. The development of antiviral agents is an urgent priority. Biochemical events critical to the coronavirus replication cycle provided a number of attractive targets for drug development. These include, spike protein for binding to host cell-surface receptors, proteolytic enzymes that are essential for processing polyproteins into mature viruses, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for RNA replication. There has been a lot of ground work for drug discovery and development against these targets. Also, high-throughput screening efforts have led to the identification of diverse lead structures, including natural product-derived molecules. This review highlights past and present drug discovery and medicinal-chemistry approaches against SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and COVID-19 targets. The review hopes to stimulate further research and will be a useful guide to the development of effective therapies against COVID-19 and other pathogenic coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun K. Ghosh
- Department of ChemistryPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular PharmacolgyPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- Department of ChemistryPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
- Department of Excellence of PharmacyUniversity of Naples Federico II80131NaplesItaly
| | - Dana Shahabi
- Department of ChemistryPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
| | | | - Andrew D. Mesecar
- Department of ChemistryPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
- Department of BiochemistryPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
- Department of Biological SciencesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN 47907USA
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50
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Design, synthesis and molecular docking of novel triazole derivatives as potential CoV helicase inhibitors. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2020; 70:145-159. [PMID: 31955138 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2020-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) had emerged and spread because of the worldwide travel and inefficient healthcare provided for the infected patients in several countries. Herein we investigated the anti-MERS-CoV activity of newly synthesized sixteen halogenated triazole compounds through the inhibition of helicase activity using the FRET assay. All new compounds underwent justification for their target structures via microanalytical and spectral data. SAR studies were performed. Biological results revealed that the most potent compounds were 4-(cyclopent-1-en-3-ylamino)-5-(2-(4-iodophenyl)hydrazinyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (16) and 4-(cyclopent-1-en-3-ylamino)-5-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)hydrazinyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (12). In silico molecular docking of the most potent compounds was performed to the active binding site of MERS-CoV helicase nsp13. Molecular docking results are in agreement with experimental findings.
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